Sleep during pregnancy

For years, experts have been pointing out how important a healthy sleep plays in our lives. Pregnancy time is when many changes take place in the body. One of them that moms-to-be notice is lethargy, which appears from the first weeks of pregnancy. Find out what is the best sleeping position during pregnancy and learn ways to get better sleep.

Sleep problems during pregnancy

Many pregnant women complain of sleep problems during pregnancy. The most common problem is excessive sleepiness, appearing as early as the first trimester. Daytime naps and increased fatigue are becoming a daily occurrence for many moms-to-be. This is a result of, among other things. physiological increase in the concentration of progesterone in the body of a pregnant woman. Besides, sleep problems during pregnancy can also be a symptom of various complications that arise during pregnancy. They can be a symptom of abnormal blood glucose in the course of gestational diabetes, but also of anemia or hypothyroidism. Mandatory examinations performed during pregnancy allow early detection of a possible condition and implementation of treatment.

There is also a large group of pregnant women whose problem with sleep, is not excessive sleepiness, but on the contrary-insomnia. Depending on the trimester of pregnancy, it can have different causes. Some moms-to-be can’t sleep at night because of too many naps during the day. IN II. trimester of pregnancy, when a pregnant woman begins to feel the toddler’s kicks, the baby’s activity can make it difficult to sleep soundly. Frequent visits to the toilet are also one of the possible causes of sleep problems during pregnancy. If, these problems are not a symptom accompanying a more serious illness, the mother-to-be should take special care of the quality and conditions of her sleep.

Read more:
Drowsiness during pregnancy-where does it come from?

Ways to get better sleep during pregnancy

Sleep hygiene in the form of daily rituals and habits helps get rid of sleep problems. Recommended methods include. Regularity in going to bed. We should do it at the same time every day. The bedroom should be aired out before bedtime. Sleeping with air-drying radiators on should also be avoided. Experts also advise against watching TV in the bedroom or using devices such as smartphones and tablets while lying in bed. Avoiding heavy-digestible foods for dinner can also help with sleep problems. It is also important to find a comfortable sleeping position, which becomes increasingly difficult for many women as the pregnancy continues.

The best position to sleep during pregnancy

At the beginning of the pregnancy, a woman can sleep in the same position as before. As the weeks go by, however, and the size of the tummy increases, the sleeping position becomes more forced. This is due to the fact that mothers-to-be should not sleep on their stomachs. At the end of pregnancy, it is also inadvisable to sleep on the back, due to possible pressure on the vessels, among other things. inferior vena cava. It is best to choose the right or left side. Special sleeping horns can also be useful, which the mother-to-be can arrange and adjust for herself accordingly. In turn, after giving birth, they can serve as a feeding horn to make it easier to attach the baby to the breast.